Now entering its fifth annual convening, the Emerging School Models conference continues to grow as a leading national forum on school choice and educational innovation. This year’s theme shall emphasize the broadening landscape for choice, which has been shaped by a wave of state legislation as well as the new federally funded scholarship tax credit program.
This year's conference, hosted on September 17–18, 2026, at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., will focus on research, policy, and practice.
The conference registration fee is $100 to cover costs of meals, including the keynote dinner. A limited number of scholarships will be available to cover the registration fee.
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Reserve your spot now to attend the conference in person or virtually
Full agenda and schedule of events
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Askwith Forum (Askwith), 1st floor, Longfellow Hall, 13 Appian Way
Eliot-Lyman (E-L), 2nd floor, Longfellow Hall, 13 Appian Way
Gutman Conference Center (E1, E2, E3), ground floor, 6 Appian Way
1 p.m.
Opening remarks (Askwith)
Paul E. Peterson, Harvard University
Daniel Hamlin, University of Texas at Austin
1:15 p.m.
Session 1: The Next Phase of School Choice: What impact will the federal tax credit have? (Askwith)
Panelists:
Kim Anderson, National Education Association
Derrell Bradford, 50CAN
Greg Nadeau, Ed3
Moderators:
Daniel Hamlin, University of Texas at Austin
Paul E. Peterson, Harvard University
2:15 p.m.
Break
2:30 p.m.
Session 2A: AI and Emerging Schools: Revolution or rhetoric? (GCC1)
Panelists:
Steven Cruz, City Fund
Kate Liemandt, Alpha School
Juliet Squire, Bellwether Education Partners
Moderator:
Dan Meyer, Amplify
Session 2B: The New Pipeline: New school models and workforce pathways (GCC2)
Panelists:
Aimee Evan, WestEd
Wendell Scales Jr., Agri-STEM Pathways
Jon Schnur, America Achieves
Moderator:
Tyler Mayer, Cristo Rey Network
Session 2C: Unbundled Learning: Rewriting the rules of school (GCC3)
Panelists:
Samuel Abrams, National Education Policy Center
Eddie Ruiz, Charter Schools USA
Jessica Slayback, REALM
Moderator:
Amy McGrath, Arizona State University
Session 2D: A New Era of Enrollment: Can school districts thrive in high choice environments? (E-L)
Panelists:
Scott Bess, Indiana State Board of Education
Brian Fitzpatrick, Fordham Institute
Maria Vazquez, Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools
Moderator:
Rebecca E. Wolfe, Center on Reinventing Public Education
3:30 p.m.
Break
3:45 p.m.
Session 3A: Is Universal Choice Truly Achievable? (GCC1)
Panelists:
Drew Catt, EdChoice
Doug Harris, Tulane University
Kiara Sanchez, Boston College
Moderator:
Paul E. Peterson, Harvard University
Session 3B: Charting the Microschool Landscape: Access, innovation, and outcomes (GCC2)
Panelists:
Daniel Hamlin, University of Texas at Austin
Brenda K. Murphy, SailAway Learning & Academy
Don Soifer, National Microschooling Center
Moderator:
Amar Kumar, KaiPod Learning
Session 3C: From Innovation to Life Opportunity: How emerging schools are expanding college access (GCC3)
Panelists:
Stratsi Kulinski, NewU University and Dual Academy
Wayne Lewis, Houghton University
Martin Nalls, i3Academy
Moderators:
Shiren Rattigan and Julian Aldave, Colossal Academy of Florida
Session 3D: School Choice at the Center of Urban Development (E-L)
Panelists:
Bartley Danielsen, North Carolina State University
Kristen Forbriger, City Fund
David Kirby, Acton Academy of Washington, DC
Moderator:
Meredith Olson, VELA
4:45 p.m.
Break
5:30 pm.
Networking reception
Ballroom Foyer, 3rd floor, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett Street
6:30 p.m.
Keynote address
A Conversation with Kirsten Baesler, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
Ballroom, Charles Hotel
Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Nye Conference Center (Nye), Taubman Building, 5th floor, 15 Eliot Street
Allison Dining Room (ADR), Taubman Building, 5th floor
Ellwood Democracy Lab (Ellwood), Rubenstein Building, 4th floor
Wexner 434AB (Wexner), Wexner Building, 4th floor
7:45 a.m.
Breakfast
Allison Dining Room
8:15 a.m.
Session 4A: Growing High Quality Seats in Public Schools of Choice (Nye)
Panelists:
Parker Baxter, University of Colorado Denver
Darryl Cobb, Charter School Growth Fund
Ramin Taheri, Magnet Schools of America
Moderator:
Paul E. Peterson, Harvard University
Session 4B: Expanding Opportunity for Students with Disabilities (ADR)
Panelists:
Michelle Mead, 5 Rock Learning
Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Glenna Wright-Gallo, Everway
Moderator:
Paul DiPerna, EdChoice
Session 4C: Financing Emerging Schools: Is current funding sufficient? (Ellwood)
Panelists:
Cassandra Bandy, Texas Southern University
Graham Frey, Hallcraft School Studio
Allison Serafin, Building Hope Impact Fund
Moderator:
Adam Pugh, State of Oklahoma
Session 4D: Personalized Learning: Designing schools for the individual student (Wexner)
Panelists:
Carleen Maurer, Sage Oak Charter Schools
Kylie Poppen, One Stone Ventures
Lisa Tarshis, The Primer Foundation
Moderator:
Tyler Thigpen, The Forest School
9:15 a.m.
Break
9:30 a.m.
Keynote address
A Conversation with Hon. Jared Polis, 43rd Governor of the State of Colorado (Nye)
With an introduction by Hanna Skandera, Daniels Fund
10:15 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Session 5A: How should homeschooling be regulated? (Nye)
Panelists:
William Estrada, Home School Legal Defense Association
Jennifer Leeper, State of Connecticut
Angela Watson, Johns Hopkins University School of Education
Moderator:
Paul E. Peterson, Harvard University
Session 5B: Nowhere to go: Addressing school supply shortages (ADR)
Panelists:
Corey DeAngelis, The Heritage Foundation
Ron Matus, Step Up For Students
Alison Rini, Star Lab
Moderator:
Daniel Hamlin, University of Texas at Austin
Session 5C: Who decides what a good school is? What are the right performance measures? (Ellwood)
Panelists:
Ashley Berner, Johns Hopkins University
Jenny Clark, Love Your School
Amar Kumar, Kaipod Learning
Moderator:
Raphael Gang, Stand Together Trust
Session 5D: Developing new educator pipelines for emerging models (Wexner)
Panelists:
Sean Hadley, Florida State University
Armen Hratchian, Teach For America Detroit
Colyn Ritter, EdChoice
Moderator:
Martin R. West, Harvard Graduate School of Education
11:30 a.m.
Break
11:45 a.m.
Session 6A: Is outdoor learning legitimate? (Nye)
Panelists:
Jess Alfreds, Carolina Kids Co-op
Toni Frallicciardi, Surf Skate Science
Travis Holleman, ROOT Farm & Forest School
Moderator:
Adam Tyner, Oklahoma Center for Education Policy
Session 6B: Is Innovation at Odds with Accountability? (ADR)
Panelists:
Carrie Irvin, Bellwether Education Partners
Matt Lee, Kennesaw State University
Harry Patrinos, University of Arkansas
Moderator:
Eric Wearne, Kennesaw State University
Session 6C: Opportunity Close to Home: Rethinking rural school choice (Ellwood)
Panelists:
Melissa Blanco, Khan Schools Network
Brent Haken, Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education
Genevieve Hinnant, Arbor Learning Lab
Moderator:
David Marshall, Auburn University
Session 6D: Too Many Options, Not Enough Information? (Wexner)
Panelists:
Horatio Blackman, Education Reform Now
Jon Deane, GreatSchools
Ty’Sheka Lambert, GeorgiaCAN
Moderator:
Daniel Hamlin, University of Texas at Austin
12:45 p.m.
Adjourn — Lunch